Today’s cancer headlines – keeping it all in perspective

Not surprisingly the charity is using it as an opportunity
to argue that ‘the NHS will not be able to cope with the huge increase in
demand for cancer services’ and that we therefore need more investment in ‘proper after-care’ and in ‘engaging cancer
patients on their own health’.

Many people reading
these reports may be anxious about their own future health but the reality is
that whilst people are more likely to get cancer in the future they are also
less likely to die from it.

In 1992, the proportion of people in the UK
who got cancer during their life was 32%. This increased to 44% in 2010 and is
expected to level off at around 47% between 2020 and 2030.

But this needs to be
balanced against changes in survival prospects. In 1992, 45,000 people, or 21%
of those who had cancer, did not die from the disease. This increased to 35% in
2010 and is expected to rise to 38% in 2020.

So in simple terms
your chances are 50/50 of getting cancer in 2020 but your chance of dying from
it is only six in ten.

Overall the chance
of dying from cancer will remain only slightly higher than it is now – about one
in three.

The growth in the
number of people getting cancer is explained by the fact that people are living
longer, because as the population ages the incidence of cancer rises.

Macmillan puts the
increased survival rates from cancer down to a greater focus on early
diagnosis, advances in cancer treatments and better cancer care.

In the UK, more than
one in three people will develop cancer at some point in their lives. Every
year, around 309,500
people are diagnosed with the disease.

But experts estimate
that more than four in 10 cancer cases could actually be prevented by
lifestyle changes, such as: not
smoking, keeping a healthy body
weight, cutting back on alcohol,
eating a healthy, balanced diet,
keeping active,
avoiding certain infections (like HPV),
staying safe in the sun and
avoiding certain occupational risks (see chemicals
in the workplace).

Cancer, of course,
is not just one disease but over
200 different conditions with a variety of levels of severity and outcome –
and the outlook in any given cancer depends on its type, location and stage.

And if you avoid
cancer then the likelihood is that you will die instead of heart disease,
respiratory disease or stroke.

For Christians there
are several big take home messages.

First is to
appreciate that cancer is very common, so don’t be surprised if it happens to
you or your loved ones. Rather prepare for it.

Second is to
remember that your body is a gift from God and a temple of the Holy Spirit (1
Corinthians 6:19) so treat it with respect. You may, in so doing, lessen your
chance of getting certain cancers.

Third is to accept
that, unless Christ returns first, you are going to die of something so live
your life with that in mind. As a surgeon I was continually surprised to meet
patients who seemed to be under the illusion that it was never going to happen
to them, or at least not yet.

Fourth is to keep it
all in an eternal perspective.

The Bible says that
all people ‘are destined to die once and after that to face judgment’ (Hebrews
9:27) and then to end up in one of two destinations for all eternity (Revelation
20:11-15). That is something that wonderfully focusses the mind about
priorities on earth!

But the very next
verse puts it all in perspective because it tells us the wonderful news that ‘Christ
was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many’ and that ‘he will appear a
second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting
for him’ (Hebrews 9:27).

So are you waiting
for him?

Medicine is limited.
All it really can offer is a few more years of better quality.

The important thing
to realise is that this life is only a shadow of what is to come, and that what
follows this life is infinitely more important.

So don’t be scared
of cancer. If it happens it happens. Instead grasp the fact that there is actually
something far worse than cancer.

As Jesus said’ ‘I
will show you whom you should fear: fear him who, after your
body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell
you, fear him.’ (Luke 12:5)

If you are not a
Christian and that scares you, then you are not far from the Kingdom of God.

Samson was on a mission from God and was acting as God's instrument of judgement. He was a soldier and national leader (judge) who had already been involved in a number of battles. The Philistines, who had chained him like an animal although he was a prisoner of war, thoroughly deserved what they got. His own death was collateral damage and not suicide. It was an act of courage and not cowardice.

How do you know he was truly on a mission from god? Do you have any extra-biblical sources?

I personally don't care whether it led to collateral damage or not. It was still suicide (because he took actions that ended his life). You've just given succor to terrorist suicide bombers, Peter. For shame.

Winston you are absolutely priceless. Do you actually understand the context of any of these Scriptures or have you just cut and pasted them from a website which you have uncritically assumed is authoritative?

What is your basis for this assessment, Peter? Any reasonable person would conclude that anyone who lies through others is more of a coward than someone who lies directly.

Also, why reject the Koran or the Bhagavad Gita? If god is not the author of confusion, as your bible claims, then those verses would not exist or be unequivocally explained (within the bible, not through the weasel words of apologists).

You need to read these verses in their context. God is sovereign over all, even the Devil himself, but he stands behind evil in a very different way to the way he stands behind good. Sometimes he leads rebellious people to believe a lie.

Actually Peter, no one responded to Winston because he likes to quote the bible out of context all too often. But he forgets certain pieces of scripture like Proverbs 26:4 which tells us, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him.”

"Second is to remember that your body is a gift from God and a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) so treat it with respect. You may, in so doing, lessen your chance of getting certain cancers."As a Christian, I was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer 3 years ago which was great shock to me at the time as I had never smoked a cigarette in my life - even when I wasn't a Christian (and I've been a Christian for 36 years which is most of my life.) I don't drink either... naturally I would really love to know what in world caused this. I've an excellent BMI and am very fit and healthy in other ways which I am thankful for . I try to be patient with well-meaning people who tell me that I haven't been eating enough broccoli/asparagus/ fruit etc... I love all of these. To be honest I do get a little angry with Christians who make comments like... "You have to accept what God gives you." God gives no one cancer, no more than He gave Job all those horrible things that befell him - and I've had a horrendous list of things that have befallen me in the last few years, apart from the Bladder C. thing (death in my family etc.) - and I've had to listen to many 'Job's comforters' in the process. Still, I love the Lord and am His servant for the rest of my life here, whatever it consists of. He has enabled me to be a witness for Him in cancer support centres and in hospital settings. One thing I have encountered which horrified me was the fact that some ladies from a certain ethnic background were ostracized by their own 'Christian' community and treated like lepers since they've been diagnosed with cancer. (Until now cancer has been seen as a 'western disease' which makes me think that there are definitely environmental issues, especially with regard to Bladder Cancer.) I'd like to be a support and a friend to them (not in a patronizing way) as I really feel they need it - although there are language and cultural differences to be overcome. Please pray for me.

Contact the author

Search this Blog

Kiwi, Christian and Medical

This blog deals mainly with matters at the interface of Christianity and Medicine. But I do also diverge into other subjects - especially New Zealand, rugby, economics, developing world, politics and topics of general Christian and/or medical interest. The opinions expressed here are mine and may not necessarily reflect the views of my employer or anyone else associated with me.

About Me

I am CEO of Christian Medical Fellowship, a UK-based organisation with 4,500 UK doctors and 1,000 medical students as members. The opinions expressed here however are mine, and may not necessarily reflect the views of CMF or anyone else associated with me.